/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65705056/usa_today_12399760.0.jpg)
STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State men’s basketball team improved to 3-0 with a 62-45 win over Louisiana-Monroe Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum.
Louisiana-Monroe now falls to 2-2 on the season.
The win also extends the Bulldogs’ SEC-leading nonconference home winning streak to 25 games, which dates back to the 2016-17 season.
Sophomore forward Reggie Perry paced the offense with 14 points in the contest. He also finished with a team-high 14 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Robert Woodard II posted a 13-point, seven-rebound night, while freshmen guards Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart chipped in with 10 points apiece.
As a team, the Bulldogs shot 20-of-49 (40.8%) and 3-of-12 (25.0%) from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs held a 41-32 rebounding advantage, while turning the ball over 14 times to Lousiana-Monroe’s 17. The Warhawks shot 18-of-51 (35.3%), including 5-of-16 (31.3%) from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs never trailed in the game. State jumped out to a 9-2 lead before the Warhawks drew within a single point at 14-13 with 9:36 left in the first half.
The Bulldogs would eventually go on some short runs before heading to the locker room with a 39-24 lead after the first half.
A layup from Woodard II extended State’s lead to 44-27 early into the second half before the Warhawks trimmed the lead to 12 points at 52-40 with 6:42 left in the game, but that was as close as they’d get.
The Bulldogs’ biggest lead of the game was 21 points (62-41 with 2:13 left).
MSU will be back in action Sunday when the Bulldogs host New Orleans. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. The game can be watche don SEC Network+ through the WatchESPN app.